Talking Points - Defense

[SpHSpH]

I am someone who is really feeling the challenge (so far this year) on the defensive side of the ball. I am a veteran FIFA player ... and I know that I usually figure it out each year ... but this year is proving more difficult than what I can remember from previous years.

I appreciate the talking points from this video tutorial ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFr5...G6Fll22ZPXZDuR

I want to work through them one at a time and see if any of you have any more comments that could be helpful to me (and many others). I know the "how to" for all of these things ... but there is always a nuance or two that never gets mentioned in the official instruction manual ...

FWIW ... I play all-manual, World Class, Slow, 15 minute half, "OS Community" sliders, tactical defending ... I would consider myself more of a "sim" player (rather than an "arcade" player) ... I only play offline career mode matches against the CPU.

Here we go:

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"Timing Tackles" ... I am useless at tackling (both standing and sliding), the CPU out-tackles me at least 2:1 in nearly every match (some of this may be a comment on how easily I lose possession when I am on offense ... but that is for another day). The tutorial suggests that I should only tackle "when I have a good chance of winning the ball" ... when is that exactly? I am pretty good at NOT sprinting into tackles (I am trying to train myself to be good about not using RT on both offense and defense). "Close the gap and then slow down as you approach" ... does this mean use LT when I get close to the CPU player? How close? It says to tap 'B' ... quick tap? / long tap? / does it matter?

"Push and Pull" ... I do not feel like I am ever in a position to try this ... again, how close is "close enough" to attempt this push-and-pull maneuver? Do I hold the 'B' button to do this? Mash it repeatedly? Is the risk/reward for this technique worth it?

"Jockey" ... this is something that I have frequently used from previous FIFAs. But when I am jockeying ... the CPU player will sometimes simply dribble past my defender and off he goes. I feel like I should not get too close to the CPU player with the ball when I am jockeying ... what is the "sweet spot" radius that I should maintain ... so that I am in position to cut off a pass / prevent a shot or cross / be a nuisance defensively to the CPU attacker? Can I combine the jockey with an attempt at a standing tackle? Do I need to release LT first before I select 'B' to perform the tackle?

"Slide Tackles" ... I admit that I have never been very good at this (it seems like the CPU defenders are particularly good at slide tackling against me this year). I find that I always mistime the slide tackle (or do it wrong) and then my player is on the ground, out of position, and the CPU guy runs past him. Each year I say to myself "this is the year that I am going to try to add slide tackles to my game" ... and each year I give up and try to play a more passive defense (usually this works out OK for me). How can I be "sure that I am going to win the ball"? How close to the CPU player do I need to be to attempt the slide tackle? Should I be moving / jockeying / running? I have never used them for "last ditch blocks on shots" ... I kind of feel like the CPU would exploit this to get some gift penalty kicks.

"Teammate Contain" ... this is something that I have tried to get better at ... but I am never really sure when is the right time to call for it. I also get concerned about the whole "do not lose your shape at the back" plan ... if I ask a teammate to close down on the CPU player with the ball, then that teammate chases to far and gets out of position, then the CPU (smartly) exploits the empty area of the field. If the CPU attacker blows by the teammate that I have sent for teammate contain ... then I am in big trouble.

"Switching Players" ... this one is a BIG talking point for me this year with FIFA15 on X1 ... I used to use LB to do the switch player thing all of the time ... but the LB button on the X1 controlled is REALLY annoying. I am, instead, getting into the habit in which I try to *NOT* switch as often, I try to avoid switching to any of my back four (LB CB CB RB), instead I prefer to stay with either of my two CDMs or, if the play is out wide, either my LM or RM. I have to "trust" my CPU-controlled defensive teammates to do their job ... this *usually* works, but sometimes they still make a mess of it. I am trying to train myself this year to use the R-Stick instead of LB to switch players on defense ... I think this is sort of working for me ... but occasionally I lose track of which player I am currently assigned to - which means I do not know which relative direction to flick the R-Stick to get to the player I want to switch to. I also want to note that, when using LB (and, therefore, the game chooses which player to switch your control to) I do not always get switched to the player that I want to get switched to ... it is as if the game does not always pick the guy that I thought was in the best position to help me on defense ... that is a bummer ... then I find myself mashing LB as it cycles to different player choices. What is the best choice for switching in the game menu (I think I am currently set to "Air Balls" only)?

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I have been playing and replaying my preseason friendlies in an effort to get practice with my team before the proper league season begins. I have been keeping track of my box scores simply to learn about my tendencies. Here are the summaries ...

I (as Lorient) played a road match against Torino three times (average):

Goals = 1.67 (CPU) / 0.33 (HUM)
Shots = 14.33 (CPU) / 7.00 (HUM)
SoT = 6.67 (CPU) / 4.00 (HUM)
Poss = 49% (CPU) / 51% (HUM)
Tackles = 21.33 (CPU) / 8.67 (HUM)
Fouls = 2.67 (CPU) / 1.33 (HUM)
Pass % = 84% (CPU) / 79% (HUM)

And I (as Lorient) played a home match against Deportivo three times (average):

Goals = 2.67 (CPU) / 0.67 (HUM)
Shots = 16.00 (CPU) / 5.00 (HUM)
SoT = 7.33 (CPU) / 3.00 (HUM)
Poss = 47% (CPU) / 53% (HUM)
Tackles = 21.00 (CPU) / 9.33 (HUM)
Fouls = 2.33 (CPU) / 1.00 (HUM)
Pass % = 87% (CPU) / 83% (HUM)

I am conceding a TON of shots (though I am doing an OK job of limiting the number of shots on target). I tend to be very "bend but do not break" in that I fall back, try to get players behind the ball, try to intercept a pass instead of go for a tackle. You can see here that the CPU is significantly out-tackling me ... they seem to be good at it and I am not.

Thanks - I know this was a long read - I am just trying to get better - I would appreciate any further advice about how to improve on defense (and I am sure that I am not the only OS user who could benefit from suggestions). Let me know what works for you!

[SpHSpH]

Do you "trust" your CPU-controlled teammates on defense?

My point is this ... I am trying to cut back on "furiously mashing the LB and constantly switching the player I am controlling on defense" ... this means that I am mostly controlling one of my CDMs and patrolling the passing lanes ... this leaves the CPU to control my back four ... and I am not always pleased with how they react/respond. I think this is part of why I am conceding so many shots ... my defense is very passive ... the CPU attack goes quite unchallenged in their attacking third.

The CPU attacking strategy often seems to be that it intends to "dance around" just outside the 18-yard box ... lots of short passes, players crossing paths with each other, frequent double-backs ... my defense gets all out of sorts trying to chase the ball (because I am never able to tackle it away) and eventually the CPU walks in for a dangerous shot.

(Also worth noting ... if I try the same approach when I am on offense ... the CPU is able to tackle the ball from my player with the easiest of ease ... but my attacking weaknesses are for another post.)

I played another three-pack of matches ... this time as Swansea City (HUM) on the road against Palermo (CPU) ... average stats:

Goals = 2.00 (CPU) / 1.00 (HUM)
Shots = 13.33 (CPU) / 6.00 (HUM)
SoT = 5.00 (CPU) / 3.67 (HUM)
Poss = 45% (CPU) / 55% (HUM)
Tackles = 20.00 (CPU) / 11.33 (HUM)
Fouls = 2.67 (CPU) / 1.33 (HUM)
Pass % = 83% (CPU) / 82% (HUM)

Still getting out-shot 2:1 ... though the shots on target is looking a little better ... I am holding possession, but most of that is in the midfield or in my defensive end, I cannot do much in the attacking third ... the CPU remains considerably better than me with tackles ...

[SpHSpH]

Another defensive thought ... clearances. I used to be able to hit 'B' to just punt the ball away to anywhere when on defense. Sort of a "F*** it - get it out of here!" approach. I never really cared where it went - as long as it went away from the goal that I was defending.

I do not find that this works nearly as well in FIFA15 ... do I have to "charge up" my clearance? I have found that simply hitting 'B' while in my defensive end often results in a very wimpy attempt ... one that is either blocked by a CPU player (who then is quickly back in a threatening position) or that does not make far enough away from my goal (or even out of bounds) to give me the respite that I was hoping for.

[BradyBunch88]

Quote:

I play all-manual, World Class, Slow, 15 minute half, "OS Community" sliders, tactical defending ... I would consider myself more of a "sim" player (rather than an "arcade" player)

Teach me!

Quote:

"Timing Tackles" ... I am useless at tackling (both standing and sliding), the CPU out-tackles me at least 2:1 in nearly every match (some of this may be a comment on how easily I lose possession when I am on offense ... but that is for another day). The tutorial suggests that I should only tackle "when I have a good chance of winning the ball" ... when is that exactly? I am pretty good at NOT sprinting into tackles (I am trying to train myself to be good about not using RT on both offense and defense). "Close the gap and then slow down as you approach" ... does this mean use LT when I get close to the CPU player? How close? It says to tap 'B' ... quick tap? / long tap? / does it matter?

I think you’ll know when’s best to go in for a tackle. Just watch Premier League games or MLS, depending on where you’re from! But you’ve got most of it right, close the gap (cut passing lanes, mark your man) slow down and then when you see the CPU struggle to make a pass, or, unsure of what to do, to me, that would be the best time to make the tackle.

Quote:

"Push and Pull" ... I do not feel like I am ever in a position to try this ... again, how close is "close enough" to attempt this push-and-pull maneuver? Do I hold the 'B' button to do this? Mash it repeatedly? Is the risk/reward for this technique worth it?

For push and pull you want to keep tapping the button, but be careful, the player could go down and get a free kick or worse, a penalty if he’s in the box, I don’t tend to use it that much.

Quote:

"Jockey" ... this is something that I have frequently used from previous FIFAs. But when I am jockeying ... the CPU player will sometimes simply dribble past my defender and off he goes. I feel like I should not get too close to the CPU player with the ball when I am jockeying ... what is the "sweet spot" radius that I should maintain ... so that I am in position to cut off a pass / prevent a shot or cross / be a nuisance defensively to the CPU attacker? Can I combine the jockey with an attempt at a standing tackle? Do I need to release LT first before I select 'B' to perform the tackle?

I’d stick with your man, not too close that he can dribble past you, not too far away that he can get a cross off into the box. I’d say about a couple feet maximum.
I’m pretty sure you can do both.

Quote:

"Slide Tackles" ... I admit that I have never been very good at this (it seems like the CPU defenders are particularly good at slide tackling against me this year). I find that I always mistime the slide tackle (or do it wrong) and then my player is on the ground, out of position, and the CPU guy runs past him. Each year I say to myself "this is the year that I am going to try to add slide tackles to my game" ... and each year I give up and try to play a more passive defense (usually this works out OK for me). How can I be "sure that I am going to win the ball"? How close to the CPU player do I need to be to attempt the slide tackle? Should I be moving / jockeying / running? I have never used them for "last ditch blocks on shots" ... I kind of feel like the CPU would exploit this to get some gift penalty kicks.

Personally I would say never use a slide tackle. For the reasons you gave, you’re out of position, the player is down for a while before he gets back up. You look at real life football and you see a player like Wayne Rooney make a slide tackle, he doesn’t take 5 minutes to get back up! He’ll get up and chase the ball.
Maybe 30-40 years ago slide tackling was the way to win the ball back, but the game was much rougher back then. I saw an old 80s clip of a player with the ball, just the goalkeeper to beat, gets slide tackled viciously by an opponent, the opponent only gets a yellow card!!! In today’s game he would be off, clear red card because he’s last man to the goal.
Nowadays football is more about being patient, timing the right tackle, marking your man. Rather than just being senseless and sliding in every chance you get, until FIFA improve it, I’d leave it out your game.

Quote:

"Teammate Contain" ... this is something that I have tried to get better at ... but I am never really sure when is the right time to call for it. I also get concerned about the whole "do not lose your shape at the back" plan ... if I ask a teammate to close down on the CPU player with the ball, then that teammate chases to far and gets out of position, then the CPU (smartly) exploits the empty area of the field. If the CPU attacker blows by the teammate that I have sent for teammate contain ... then I am in big trouble.

The best time to use contain is when it’s late in the game and you’re down by a goal or two and you still think there’s a chance. Usually the CPU will take the ball to the corner and try and block you off the ball to time waste, so then get your teammate over, win the ball back and make a chance.

Quote:

"Switching Players" ... this one is a BIG talking point for me this year with FIFA15 on X1 ... I used to use LB to do the switch player thing all of the time ... but the LB button on the X1 controlled is REALLY annoying. I am, instead, getting into the habit in which I try to *NOT* switch as often, I try to avoid switching to any of my back four (LB CB CB RB), instead I prefer to stay with either of my two CDMs or, if the play is out wide, either my LM or RM. I have to "trust" my CPU-controlled defensive teammates to do their job ... this *usually* works, but sometimes they still make a mess of it. I am trying to train myself this year to use the R-Stick instead of LB to switch players on defense ... I think this is sort of working for me ... but occasionally I lose track of which player I am currently assigned to - which means I do not know which relative direction to flick the R-Stick to get to the player I want to switch to. I also want to note that, when using LB (and, therefore, the game chooses which player to switch your control to) I do not always get switched to the player that I want to get switched to ... it is as if the game does not always pick the guy that I thought was in the best position to help me on defense ... that is a bummer ... then I find myself mashing LB as it cycles to different player choices. What is the best choice for switching in the game menu (I think I am currently set to "Air Balls" only)?

I’m the opposite, I use the “LB” button to switch, I play on PS4 so for me it’s L1. But anyways, I’ve found that to be more accurate than using the right stick. The right stick for me is all over the place, 9/10 it doesn’t go to the player I want it to go to. I’ve had such bad luck using that. L1 for me, whilst not perfect, I’d say most of the time it goes to player I want. So I’ll stick with that.
But yes, 100% right about not controlling your back four, let your CPU do their job, exactly! Controlling the CDM is the best way to go.

Quote:

(Also worth noting ... if I try the same approach when I am on offense ... the CPU is able to tackle the ball from my player with the easiest of ease ... but my attacking weaknesses are for another post.)

I think that's just precisely it. I'd say you seem pretty comfortable defending, ironically, but it's what to do with the ball once you've won it. How to form an attack and how to score goals. That's what you need to practice on. But I do admire you for your defence ethic, it's important and especially in FIFA it's overlooked! You get guys who just want to attack all the time, football isn't like that.
Consider learning some basic skill moves, ball roll is really good, you can make players miss tackles and it's cool to use if you want to take it round the keeper and score.

For more in depth defending, shoot over to Ovvy's channel on Youtube, he's got some pretty good defending tips and who else better to learn from than a guy who has won numerous FIFA tournaments.

Quote:

Another defensive thought ... clearances. I used to be able to hit 'B' to just punt the ball away to anywhere when on defense. Sort of a "F*** it - get it out of here!" approach. I never really cared where it went - as long as it went away from the goal that I was defending.

For me being a p***y playing on assisted or semi-assisted, can't remember, I can just press the shoot button and my defender will clear the ball.
For you playing all manual, I think everything is important, direction, charge.

I think at the end of the day it's all about practice and in game. I can talk and talk on here about football philosophies, but it's putting the work in on the virtual pitch!
If you're playing your pre-season games over and over again, then don't be afraid to try different things, so what if you lose like 20-0 there might be one or two good things that happened in that match, that you've learnt how to use, so it's worthwhile!

[Erithtotl]

To me you highlight one of the worst things about this year's FIFA. Though I guess this is always somewhat the case, the CPU and you play by two utterly different sets of rules.

The CPU slide tackles with utter abandon, chases and sprints after attackers constantly, dinks the ball around the box without fear of losing it, and makes constant tiny dribble adjustments while also maintaining accuracy on very long balls. At least on World Class and above, because it cheats like crazy.

Last year I found just trying to 'run through' the cpu's path was the best way to tackle but this year I find you really do have to use the B button. The key with the B button is to NOT use it when you are too close and face up with the CPU, but rather a few feat away. You need to give your defender space to poke the ball away. I use the B button all the time when I am next to a cpu player to jockey them and sometimes knock them off the ball or at least disrupt their path. When they get down near the box though I just go with the faceup/contain and try and stay in front of them.

I too am driven crazy by the switching logic, which often toggles to someone completely out of the play, and the right stick seems almost random. The previous poster is correct, don't switch to your defenders unless you have to (though if you don't use wingers you might need to switch to your fullbacks, because closing down on the wings with central mids will throw off your defensive shape).

I have much of the same issue you do on offense. This is the part I haven't seemed to be able to improve on despite playing 100+ games. Last match (9 minute haves) away at Spurs they had 23 tackles, many of them with players slide tackling my player from behind from several yards away. It's like the AI is playing the 1970s and you are playing in 2015. I do think that perhaps the only way to really succeed at the higher levels in FIFA 2015 is to learn the dribble moves, something I've never really enjoyed. Another player mentioned he's winning on Legendary by bombing long balls over the top. Also not really the way I want to play.

[SpHSpH]

This is ridiculous ... I cannot compete on defense ... there is no balance between what the CPU can do and what I can do. The slide tackles are astounding ... the frequency with which the CPU is successful with their slide tackles is really mind-boggling (especially the tackles that they perform when my player is approaching the 18-yard-box or when I am in the act of shooting). I have *zero* success if I try the same technique when I am on defense.

When the CPU attacks ... they are able to dance around my players with FAR more ease than I see when I am the attacking team. Many have suggested that I need to be more patient on defense, to use the jockey and stay back, to stay between the ball and my goal ... but I feel like I cannot rely on my other CPU-controlled teammates to do their job - they rarely attempt a tackle, they are fooled by the CPU stop-and-go, they get dragged out of their positions too easily ("keep your shape" is another thing that I have been struggling to maintain).

I am also super frustrated when I *do* get a tackle ... and there is a "loose ball" while it has come free from the CPU attacker ... and NONE of my CPU-controlled teammates make an effort to go get the ball! They player that I was controlling, the guy who made the tackle, is usually unable to retrieve the ball because the CPU guy that he just tackled the ball from is able to block my path (obstruction?). So, even when I do get a tackle that shows up in the box score, it is not always the change in possession that I really need, it is merely an inconvenience to the CPU that forces them to re-start the attack dance once more.

So, yeah, I still stink at defense ...

Here is the summary from my repeated play friendlies experiment (I played the last two friendlies in each of my two career modes three times ... so twelve total matches ... Lorient played away at Torino and home against Deportivo, Swansea played away at Palermo and home against Valencia) ... I finished with zero wins, four draws, and eight losses (no clean sheets) ...

Goals = 2.33 (CPU) / 0.75 (HUM)
Shots = 13.67 (CPU) / 5.50 (HUM)
SoT = 6.17 (CPU) / 3.33 (HUM)
Poss = 47.7% (CPU) / 52.3% (HUM)
Tackles = 20.08 (CPU) / 10.92 (HUM)
Fouls = 2.67 (CPU) / 1.17 (HUM)
Pass % = 82.5% (CPU) / 77.8% (HUM)

I scored a total of 9 goals ... and conceded 28 ... across the twelve matches.

I am mad that I keep losing ... but it is not so much that I am getting cheated (in FIFA14 - I would too often lose a match 2-3 in which the CPU had three shots and I had fifteen - at least the CPU is actually putting up better stats than me in these losses) ... but the play does not seem fair between the CPU and HUM.

Again - I need to get better - what works for you?

Thanks!

[snyder5man]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

This is ridiculous ... I cannot compete on defense ... there is no balance between what the CPU can do and what I can do. The slide tackles are astounding ... the frequency with which the CPU is successful with their slide tackles is really mind-boggling (especially the tackles that they perform when my player is approaching the 18-yard-box or when I am in the act of shooting). I have *zero* success if I try the same technique when I am on defense. When the CPU attacks ... they are able to dance around my players with FAR more ease than I see when I am the attacking team. Many have suggested that I need to be more patient on defense, to use the jockey and stay back, to stay between the ball and my goal ... but I feel like I cannot rely on my other CPU-controlled teammates to do their job - they rarely attempt a tackle, they are fooled by the CPU stop-and-go, they get dragged out of their positions too easily ("keep your shape" is another thing that I have been struggling to maintain). I am also super frustrated when I *do* get a tackle ... and there is a "loose ball" while it has come free from the CPU attacker ... and NONE of my CPU-controlled teammates make an effort to go get the ball! They player that I was controlling, the guy who made the tackle, is usually unable to retrieve the ball because the CPU guy that he just tackled the ball from is able to block my path (obstruction?). So, even when I do get a tackle that shows up in the box score, it is not always the change in possession that I really need, it is merely an inconvenience to the CPU that forces them to re-start the attack dance once more. So, yeah, I still stink at defense ... Here is the summary from my repeated play friendlies experiment (I played the last two friendlies in each of my two career modes three times ... so twelve total matches ... Lorient played away at Torino and home against Deportivo, Swansea played away at Palermo and home against Valencia) ... I finished with zero wins, four draws, and eight losses (no clean sheets) ... Goals = 2.33 (CPU) / 0.75 (HUM) Shots = 13.67 (CPU) / 5.50 (HUM) SoT = 6.17 (CPU) / 3.33 (HUM) Poss = 47.7% (CPU) / 52.3% (HUM) Tackles = 20.08 (CPU) / 10.92 (HUM) Fouls = 2.67 (CPU) / 1.17 (HUM) Pass % = 82.5% (CPU) / 77.8% (HUM) I scored a total of 9 goals ... and conceded 28 ... across the twelve matches. I am mad that I keep losing ... but it is not so much that I am getting cheated (in FIFA14 - I would too often lose a match 2-3 in which the CPU had three shots and I had fifteen - at least the CPU is actually putting up better stats than me in these losses) ... but the play does not seem fair between the CPU and HUM. Again - I need to get better - what works for you? Thanks!

Couple of things:
1) Do you change your tactics?
It is a slight help. I use drunken ferrets set: 70, 70, Free Form, 70, 70, 80, Free Form, 67, 47, 44, Cover.
2) You have great time of poss! I almost never have more than the CPU.
3) I use 10 min halves. That seems to give more realistic stats.
4) Offense is a great defense. I use a 4-3-3 (wide wings). It's easier to find open players wide. That allows me to play the ball up quicker and counter attack.


That is how I help my poor defensive skills.

[half-fast]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

I am someone who is really feeling the challenge (so far this year) on the defensive side of the ball. I am a veteran FIFA player ... and I know that I usually figure it out each year ... but this year is proving more difficult than what I can remember from previous years. I appreciate the talking points from this video tutorial ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFr5...G6Fll22ZPXZDuR I want to work through them one at a time and see if any of you have any more comments that could be helpful to me (and many others). I know the "how to" for all of these things ... but there is always a nuance or two that never gets mentioned in the official instruction manual ... FWIW ... I play all-manual, World Class, Slow, 15 minute half, "OS Community" sliders, tactical defending ... I would consider myself more of a "sim" player (rather than an "arcade" player) ... I only play offline career mode matches against the CPU.

I was, and am still kind of frustrated by this game, but after a lot of trial and error, I have overcome many of the obstacles that plague most manual users.
I also play all-manual, World Class, 10-15 min halves, OS sliders(slightly modified) and use tactical defending. While being frustrated by the difficulty on WC, I dropped it to Professional, but found it too easy - was crushing opponents, and dont find it fun when players hold up so you can catch them, etc, so I decided to keep it on at least WC and work through it.

I believe the most key point in FIFA is the be aware of the ultra sensitive, and erratic momentum shifting. being fully aware of when it's shifting and why will help you change your gameplay to counter the momentum and swing it back in your direction. Without it, youll win fewer than a few games.

Momentum
Momentum is almost always realized and distributed before the game even starts, far more for online and manager career games, as I find Exhibition games play very well, and for the most part start off fairly equal. What this means is, the game attempts to simulate real life's unpredictability and team form swings by shifting momentum around so you will lose, or even to give you a really easy win at times.

Momentum is mainly achieved by *smart* passing, accurate passing, the execution of chances, and smart, patient defending. The passing part of it is difficult for an all-manual player, but as I'm sure you already know, as an all-manual player you have the potential to make absolutely brilliant passes.

Shielding the ball is a must to keep possession until help arrives, and without momentum, youll notice that all loose balls find their way directly to the oppositions feet. You want momentum so the ball bounces more loose or to your feet instead.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

"Timing Tackles" ... I am useless at tackling (both standing and sliding), the CPU out-tackles me at least 2:1 in nearly every match (some of this may be a comment on how easily I lose possession when I am on offense ... but that is for another day). The tutorial suggests that I should only tackle "when I have a good chance of winning the ball" ... when is that exactly? I am pretty good at NOT sprinting into tackles (I am trying to train myself to be good about not using RT on both offense and defense). "Close the gap and then slow down as you approach" ... does this mean use LT when I get close to the CPU player? How close? It says to tap 'B' ... quick tap? / long tap? / does it matter?

I havent watched the tutorial you posted, but I think I can help. First off, I always do better defensively when my LB,RB(or LWB, RWB) are speedy to catch streaking forwards. "when I have a good chance of winning the ball", and "Close the gap and then slow down as you approach". When you have a good chance of winning the ball is when the player is dribbling and the ball is at the furthest point from their feet. That is when shoulder charging and tackling works best imo. That means timing it while theyre on the run, bc it seems the cpu has some sort of Kreskin foresight that allows them to orbit the ball around their body making it very difficult to get at it.

I would translate "Close the gap and then slow down as you approach" as two things: first, closing the gap, then slowing down because the cpu seems almost *always* does a 180 stop and cut inside when you close the gap too far on them. The other way I interpret this is to close the gap on them and slow down, blocking the lane between them and the net and force them to the side lines and corners. This is the most effective tactic I have. It is usually followed by some on and off jockeying around the sideline and corner to block their direct site of the goal. Patience and some quick player changing will get you possession of the ball.

When trapping the cpu against the sideline or in the corner is a great time to change your offensive strategy to counter attack if it's not already on that option.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

"Push and Pull" ... I do not feel like I am ever in a position to try this ... again, how close is "close enough" to attempt this push-and-pull maneuver? Do I hold the 'B' button to do this? Mash it repeatedly? Is the risk/reward for this technique worth it?

If youre further away you will see your player do a full reach to the jersey, and if youre close he will jostle the player and attempt to cut himself in between the player and ball. I use it all the time, but NEVER in the box. If the CPU is trying to break into the perimeter of the box, At all costs I keep a player between him and the net, ready to change players in an instant, and keep their exposure to the box at a minimum. If they are resilient and you cant get the ball, next time you push them out of the box I get very physical, not slide tackling, but hammering the b/o button to bring them down as I'd rather them have a free kick outside the box especially to the side than a goal or penalty shot.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

"Jockey" ... this is something that I have frequently used from previous FIFAs. But when I am jockeying ... the CPU player will sometimes simply dribble past my defender and off he goes. I feel like I should not get too close to the CPU player with the ball when I am jockeying ... what is the "sweet spot" radius that I should maintain ... so that I am in position to cut off a pass / prevent a shot or cross / be a nuisance defensively to the CPU attacker? Can I combine the jockey with an attempt at a standing tackle? Do I need to release LT first before I select 'B' to perform the tackle?

Youre right, the cpu will nutmeg you if you jockey too much/too close. I normally only use it on the sidelines. I do tackle, but this often fails, so I often get in the way, and by that i mean no really tackling, but simply running in to the offender. The cpu seems to have trouble getting around you if your player is strong, and I use that to win a lot of engagements.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

"Slide Tackles" ... I admit that I have never been very good at this (it seems like the CPU defenders are particularly good at slide tackling against me this year). I find that I always mistime the slide tackle (or do it wrong) and then my player is on the ground, out of position, and the CPU guy runs past him. Each year I say to myself "this is the year that I am going to try to add slide tackles to my game" ... and each year I give up and try to play a more passive defense (usually this works out OK for me). How can I be "sure that I am going to win the ball"? How close to the CPU player do I need to be to attempt the slide tackle? Should I be moving / jockeying / running? I have never used them for "last ditch blocks on shots" ... I kind of feel like the CPU would exploit this to get some gift penalty kicks.

Ya, slide tackling is always risky. I usually only use it centre field area to block a pass of if the player is turning and doesnt have the foot hold to turn or respond quickly enough. I also occasionally use it out the side of my own box. Again, best time to slide tackle is when the ball is at its furthest point of the dribble, so you usually need to time it so that the player is is just about to touch the ball for a dribble, and your slide tackle should coincide with when the ball is at its furthest point. Closest point to the body during a dribble works good also, but as the cpu is good at handling the ball and doing 180s, it makes it very risky.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

"Teammate Contain" ... this is something that I have tried to get better at ... but I am never really sure when is the right time to call for it. I also get concerned about the whole "do not lose your shape at the back" plan ... if I ask a teammate to close down on the CPU player with the ball, then that teammate chases to far and gets out of position, then the CPU (smartly) exploits the empty area of the field. If the CPU attacker blows by the teammate that I have sent for teammate contain ... then I am in big trouble.

I contain quite a bit, but either for a very brief time, or for a longer time. Brief time is just to apply pressure to the player to force him to change direction or make a quick pass, longer time is to apply constant pressure, and I change to a player nearby to fill the gap/cover open players.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpHSpH

"Switching Players" ... this one is a BIG talking point for me this year with FIFA15 on X1 ... I used to use LB to do the switch player thing all of the time ... but the LB button on the X1 controlled is REALLY annoying. I am, instead, getting into the habit in which I try to *NOT* switch as often, I try to avoid switching to any of my back four (LB CB CB RB), instead I prefer to stay with either of my two CDMs or, if the play is out wide, either my LM or RM. I have to "trust" my CPU-controlled defensive teammates to do their job ... this *usually* works, but sometimes they still make a mess of it. I am trying to train myself this year to use the R-Stick instead of LB to switch players on defense ... I think this is sort of working for me ... but occasionally I lose track of which player I am currently assigned to - which means I do not know which relative direction to flick the R-Stick to get to the player I want to switch to. I also want to note that, when using LB (and, therefore, the game chooses which player to switch your control to) I do not always get switched to the player that I want to get switched to ... it is as if the game does not always pick the guy that I thought was in the best position to help me on defense ... that is a bummer ... then I find myself mashing LB as it cycles to different player choices. What is the best choice for switching in the game menu (I think I am currently set to "Air Balls" only)?

Switching players is broken on purpose, and the cpu uses it to their advantage. I have very little advice as this is the biggest drawback of playing fifa for me. It plain out gives you a horrible choice of player so it can exploit open areas or weaknesses that you would close down. I occasionally use the right stick to try and select the player I wish to change to, but this can be difficult.


Hope some of this helps. If you were on ps4 Id play you, but it sounds like you have an xbone. Best of luck, keep me posted.